ATLANTA (AP) — Tom Brady vividly remembers the first time he skilled the total hype, hoopla and heightened expectations of taking part in within the Neat Bowl.

The Sleek England Patriots quarterback was upright a extensive-eyed but supremely assured second-year participant who was on the verge of jumpstarting what has was one among the most dominant dynasties in sports activities historic previous.

That was 2002 — 17 years ago, which counts as just a few career lifetimes for most NFL gamers. Brady is 41 now and insists the years haven’t changed him noteworthy from that first Neat Sunday against the then-St. Louis Rams.

“In some ways, I’m an identical,” Brady acknowledged this week while getting prepared for his ninth look on the NFL’s greatest stage. “I don’t specialise in within the tip that issues are that assorted for me.”

Except, clearly, they very noteworthy are.

Brady light has the boyish factual seems and flashy smile that made him a media darling support then, but he also has 5 Neat Bowl rings and a ridiculously prolonged list of team and NFL data to transfer alongside with plenty and a bunch of wins.

And, here he is within the days main up to this year’s sport with issues having draw beefy circle.

He’s all all over again going by blueprint of the Rams, who are actually in their third year support in Los Angeles. However this time, it’s against a quarterback in Jared Goff who was only 7 when Brady started his historic previous-making whisk.

At 24 years and 112 days light, Goff might maybe maybe well maybe be the fourth-youngest quarterback to originate a Neat Bowl sport — and the first millennial. Brady is basically fifth on that list, at 24 years, 184 days light.

The 17-year age gap is the greatest between starting quarterbacks in Neat Bowl historic previous. And, if you happen to must must actually feel actually light, influence a pop custom reference from about twenty years ago or so, and Goff will shake his head and shrug his shoulders because he’ll doubtlessly safe no longer have faith any clue what you’re talking about.

“I’ll safe requested about stuff the total time,” Goff acknowledged. “If it’s from any time within the ’90s, I doubtlessly don’t be conscious it. I used to be, you admire, born in 94, so.”

Goff doesn’t decide something else about the first time Brady hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Genuinely, his first Neat Bowl memory didn’t draw till two years later when the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers.

“It’s a man that you just’ve regarded up to for see you later,” Goff acknowledged, “and now I safe a ****** to play in a single with him.”

Grizzled worn vs. inexperienced child.

Extinct college vs. fresh college.

However the overwhelming ardour to grab at all costs is clearly ingrained in both — irrespective of the age distinction.

“I cherished taking part in then, I light care for taking part in now,” acknowledged Brady, who stands firm in his prefer to play till he’s Forty five. “I don’t use something else as a right, I actually don’t. I appreciate it. I specialise in we all work laborious at it, but to safe up to now is basically distinctive. I’m overjoyed with the fellows for making the dedication and it’s completely no longer easy. I specialise in everybody at this point is drained and used down but at the an identical time, you can have faith one among the substantial alternatives on your existence.

“Right here’s a memory you’ll have faith forever and I actually hope we’re going to have the selection to transfer out and use support of it.”

Brady sees just a few of himself in Goff, and no longer upright the indisputable fact that they had been California children who grew up in Bay Reputation cities — Brady in San Mateo, Goff in Novato — situated lower than 50 miles away.

He is conscious of Goff represents hope for a franchise on the upswing that yearns for success after several subpar seasons. Unlike Brady, who was a sixth-round grab in 2000, Goff was the No. 1 overall preference in 2016. Main up to the draft, there had been even comparisons of Goff to Brady for the baby’s footwork, pocket presence and accuracy.

Goff showed flashes in the end of a shaky rookie season of what everybody appears to be like seeing now continually.

“Oh, for obvious, you can gaze the intangibles, the throws he made on movie and within the sport,” Patriots security Duron Harmon acknowledged of the first time Sleek England faced Goff within the baby’s third career originate in 2016.

“I be conscious he threw a nine-route to the sideline and it was on a rope,” Harmon added, “and likewise you note why he was the first overall grab.”

Correct three seasons in, Goff is in his first Neat Bowl — and plenty of of specialise in this might maybe maybe maybe well maybe be the first of several with him as the face of the Rams franchise.

“He’s an unfazed quarterback,” Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged. “I specialise in his formulation to have faith success and take care of adversity the an identical demonstrates that poise and self belief you are going to have to have faith out of your quarterback.”

Quite a bit love the guy on the varied sideline.

“I specialise in there’s extra similarities than differences,” acknowledged Rams cornerback Aqib Talib, who played with Brady in the end of the 2012 and 2013 seasons. “Everybody has assorted personalities, they veritably’re assorted ages, but they’re both factual quarterbacks with a extensive arm, neat gamers, safe the offense in and out of the huddle, and can influence every throw on the topic. They’re both awful they veritably’ve bought factual teammates.

“From a defensive standpoint, they’re extra an identical than they are (assorted).”

Neither can stand to lose. And to boot they didn’t safe this some distance by accepting defeat at any stage.

However upright one will stroll off the topic Sunday feeling satisfied, having gained a Neat Bowl for the ages.

“I specialise in loving the sport and attempting to present a appreciate to and be the finest I could maybe maybe well maybe also be for the team is substantial motivation for me and I’ve upright frequently spoke about a success and that’s what I care for to forestall,” Brady acknowledged. “That’s why I’m here.”